Cooling internal-combustion engines



Sai-pt. n me. 1,598,856v

H. FORD GOoLNG INTERNAL coMBUsToN ENGINES gfgn Filed August 2, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 tfatented Sent. 7, 192.

mi. nrw... L

HEEL Y EPRD, DE' IEARBORN, MICHGAN.

CGOLNG INTERNAL-CGMBUSTION ENGINES.

Original application filed August 2, 1320, Serial No. 490,633.

This invention relates to improvements in internal combustion engines, pertaining more particularly to means for cooling the engine, the present application being a division of the application filed by me August 2, 1920, Serial #i00,638.

lVhile the present invention is applicable for use with engines generally, and especially of engines operating under air-cooled conditions, it is designed particularly for use in connection with an engine of the type disclosed in the said parent application wherein the eight cylinders are arranged in two circular series, each series containing four cylinders with the series arranged side by side in such manner that a single crank formation is employed for all of the cylinders of both series. The cylinders of each series are symmetrically disposed with respect to the crank shaft axis and to horizontal and vertical planes extending through such axis and in the direction of the length of the axis, the arrangement being such that a cylinder has its axis extending substantially along a line that substantially bisects the angle between the vertical and horizontal planes referred to thus placing the cylinders of a series practically spaced an angular distance of 90; the cylinders of a series having their axes on a common plane intersecting the crank shaft axis, while the cylinde-.rs of the second series are alined in the direction of the crank shaft axis, this arrangement being more particularly disclosed and described in the said parent application.

The cylinders under this arrangement are designed to be air-cooled, each cylinder carrying a heat dissipating formation in the form of fins or the like, these fins projecting externally, and since the cylinders form practically the outer portions of the general assembly, the arrangement places this dissipating zone a space some distance from the crank shaft axis.

The object of the present invention is to provide for rendering this heat dissipation means of maximum efliciency by producing air currents that bathe the dissipating zone portions of the cylinders, doing' this in a simple and efficient manner and without the necessity of employing the usual fan construction through the use of a large number offans such as would be required under the general practice.

Iiivded and this application filed September Serial No. 589,535.

fTo these and other ends, therefore, the nature of which will be more readily understood as the invention is hereinafter disclosed, said invention consists in the construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

ln the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similarparts for each of the views.

Fig. l is a view partly in section and partly in dotted outline showing the pres-r ent invention as applied to an engine of the type disclosed in the parent application,

the section being taken through the crank shaft axis;

F ig. 2 is an end elevation of the engine of the parent application with the present invention shown in position thereon.

'ln the drawings, the cylinders are indicated at 26, Fig. 2, illustrating the .relative arrangement of the cylinders of a series with respect to the horizontal and vertical planes through the crank shaft airis, F ig. l indicating in dotted out-line, the relative arrangement of the two series andthe crank shaft formation, these being the structures employed in connection with the particular engine described and disclosed in the said parent application.

As indicated in Fig. l, the crank shaft is of a composite type and indicated generally at 22, being formed of two sections 23 joined or connected by a cheek-block 2li, the structure setting up the conditions of a double throw crank shaft, the connecting rods for the pistons being indicated at 39. As shown, the ends of the crank shaft sections are mounted in suitable bearings within the casingl and project outwardly beyond the ends of the casing, such projecting ends being arranged to receive the hub portions 25a of the fly wheels 25, the particular formation of such wheels in the present invention being such as to provide blades 25b to produce a construction operating on the general principles of a rotatable fan, the blade Zone being located practically opposite the heat-dissipating Zone of the cylinders. As will be understood, of course, the hubs are suitably secured to the crank shaft in order that the crank shaft movements will cause the fly wheel to rotate therewith.

As shown in Fig. 1, the fly wheel arrange- CFI sipating portions of the cylinders.

ment is duplicated at the opposite ends of 'the crank shaft, so that a` bladed Zone is located at. opposite ends of the general assembly, the two bladed Zones thus setting up conditions for producing air circulation within the heat dissipating zones of the cylinders in a very ecien't manner, the activity of the twzo. fly vwheel blade structures cooperating to produce an extremely efficient air circulation through the assembly of the cylinders.

As will be understood, installation of an engine assembly of4 this type for use in connection with motor vehiclesrequires that the crank shaft be operatively connected to the transmission mechanismy in order to communicate the power of the engine to the driving mechanism of the motor vehicle. In the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, provision' is made for securing this` result by the arrangement shownat the right ink Fig. 1,. iny which the hub 25L is shown as provided with a socket-like formation 25@ and which is designed to receive the member of the driving mechanism of the vehicle designed to be connected to the engine, it being understood that since the hub of the ily wheel ispositively driven fromthe crank shaft through its splined or other connection therewith the rotation of the hub can be utilized for the purpose of transmitting the power to the driving mechanism.

As will be understood, the bladed Zone of each fly wheel is annually in type, so vthat in operation, each wheel co-.operates concurrently with all of the cylinders of a ser-ies,

the bladed zone tending, to set up continuous air circulatingv activity within the heat dis- Since these bladed portions arecarried by the iiy wheels, it will be readily understood that the moving` element is. not only serviceable for air circulating purposesbut becomes active as a fly wheel during the operating of the engine. plifies the general structure and at the same time eliminates the necessity for providing individual fan units for each of the alined cylinders,A at the same time providing circulation to cylinders thatare spaced apart distances equal to 900.

Thile 'I' have herein shown and described one way in which the invention may be employed, it will be understood, of course, that changes and modifications may be found desirable or essential in meeting the exigencies of use and Idesire it to be'understood that I reserve the right to make any andl all such changes or modications as may be found desirable or necessary in so far as the same may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention and expressed in the accompanying claims when broadly construed. A

Having thus described my invention, what I'claimvas. new is:.-

This arrangement greatly sim-.

1. In internal combustion motors, wherein a plurality of cylinders are symmetrically disposed relative to the crank shaft axis, with the cylinders arranged in successive series andpermancntly inclined with respect to a horizontal plane extending through such axis in the directionv of length of the axis, corresponding cylinders of successive series being arranged at the same angle to such plane, with the cylinders exposed and with the cylinder zone located intermediate the ends of the crank shaft, means for cooling thev cylinders, said means including externally-exposed heat dissipating structures carriedL by the cylinders, and independent air-moving elements operative to freely circulateair about said structures,said elements being carried by the'crank shaft and located' to travel in planes intersecting the crank shaft axis at right angles, said elements being spaced apart afdistance greater than the axial length of the cylinder zone to locate the elements at opposite ends of. the cylinder formation, whereby the air-movingelements will produce air-current movements generally in directions parallel with the crank shaft axis to sweepthe cylinder Zone throughout the succession ofl series of cylinders. y

2. Ininternal combustion motors, wherein a plurality of cylinders are symmetrically disposed relative to the crank shaft axis, with the cylinders arranged iny successive series and permanently inclined with respect to a horizontal plane extending through such axis in the direction of'length ofthe axis, corresponding cylinders of suc cessive series being arranged at the same angleto such plane, wit-hthe cylinders exposed and with the cylinder Zone located intermediate the ends of the crankshaft,

means for cooling the cylinders and including `independent iy wheels carried bythe crank shaft beyond thel opposite ends of the cylinder Zone, saidwheels each having an annular bladed portionoperative as an air-A moving formationduring, wheel rotation, said bladed portion having the inner limit of its blade zone approximately midway of the radial length of the wheel, suchblade zone Vbeing positioned` opposite the cylinders, whereby the air-moving elements will produce air-current movements generallyindi-l rec-tions parallel with 'the crank shaft axis to sweep the cylinderzone throughout the succession of series ofv cylinders.

3. In internal combustion motors wherein.;

a plurality of cylinders are symmetrically disposed relative to the crank shaft axis, withthe cylindersk arrangedv in successive series andpermanently'inclined witlirespectv to ahorizontal plane extendingthrough suchaxis in` thedirection of length of the axis, corresponding cylindersV of successive series being arranged at the same 'angle to such plane, with the Cylinders exposed and with the cylinder' Zone located intermediate the ends of the crank shaft, means for cooling the cylinders, said means including externallysexposed heat dissipating structures Carried by the Cylinders, and independent ly Wheels carried by the crank shaft beyond the opposite ends of the cylinder zone, said wheels each having an annular bladed portion operative as an air moving formation during Wheel rotation, said bladed portion having the inner limit of its blade zone approximately midway of the radial length of the Wheel, suoli blade zone being positioned opposite the heat-dissipating structures of the cylinders, Wliereby the air-moving elements will produce air-current movements generally in directions parallel with the Crank shaft axis to sweep the cylinder zone throughout the succession of series of oylin- 20 ders.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HENRY FORD. 

